Electrical connector having improved contacts

ABSTRACT

An electrical connector comprises an upper housing, a lower housing and a plurality of contacts which each have a top contact received in the upper housing and a bottom contact received in the lower housing. The top contact is formed with a keeping portion and a lower mating end downwardly; the bottom contact has a pair of mating beams extending vertically for engaging with the lower mating end of the top contact. The pair of mating beams of the bottom contact mechanically and electrically engage with the lower mating end of the top contact when the top contact approaches the bottom contact two mating beams in a top-to-bottom direction under a pressed force. The contact has a simple structure adapted to a high-density connector while still maintaining performance of the connector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electrical connector forelectrically connecting an electronic package such as a microprocessorwith a circuit substrate such as a printed circuit board (PCB), and moreparticularly to an electrical connector having improved contacts adaptedto a high-density connector.

2. Description of Prior Art

Land Grid Array (LGA) connector is widely used for establishingelectrical connection between an electronic package, e.g. a CentralProcessing Unit (CPU), and a PCB, e.g. a motherboard. Such LGA connectoris typically illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 7,044,746 issued to Copper onMay 16, 2006. With the development of society, people have a higher needfor capability of the CPU. Accordingly, LGA connector for connecting theCPU and the motherboard is requested to have a better performance.Additionally, to suit the industry trend of miniaturization of electricdevice, the connector is also requested to comply with a trend ofminiaturization and multiple contact points.

One solution is to reduce the size of the contacts. However, due to thesmall size of the contacts, resilient arm of the contact is easilydamaged because of larger stress therein when the contact is engagedwith the pad of the CPU. Accordingly, electrical connection is unsteady.

In view of the above, an improved electrical connector that overcomesthe above-mentioned disadvantages is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide anelectrical connector for electrically connecting an electronic packagesuch as a CPU with a circuit substrate such as a PCB, wherein thecontacts maintain performance of the electrical connector while stillmaintaining a high density array in the electrical connector.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, an electrical connector inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention forelectrically connecting an electronic package with a PCB is provided. Anelectrical connector comprises an upper housing, a lower housing and aplurality of contacts which each have a top contact received in theupper housing and a bottom contact received in the lower housing. Thetop contact is formed with a keeping portion and a lower mating enddownwardly; the bottom contact has a pair of mating beams extendingvertically for engaging with the lower mating end of the top contact.The pair of mating beams of the bottom contact mechanically andelectrically engage with the lower mating end of the top contact whenthe top contact approaches the bottom contact two mating beams in atop-to-bottom direction under a pressed force. The contact has a simplestructure adapted to a high-density connector while still maintainingperformance of the connector.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an assembly view of an electrical connector in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the electrical connector in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 3 is also an exploded view of the electrical connector inaccordance with the present invention, but from another angel;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the contact in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is an assembly view of the contact in accordance with the presentinvention; and

FIGS. 6-8 depict a process of a top contact engaged with a bottomcontact of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the presentinvention in detail.

Referring to FIGS. 1-8, an electrical connector 1 in accordance with thepreferred embodiment of the present invention is used for electricallyconnecting an electrical package (not shown) with a PCB (not shown). Theconnector 1 comprises an upper housing 10, a lower housing 12 and aplurality of contacts 14.

Each of contacts 14 comprises a top contact 140 and a bottom contact142. The lower housing 12 defines a plurality of through gaps 120 forreceiving the bottom contacts 142; the upper housing 10 is mounted uponthe lower housing 12 and defines a plurality of receiving slots 100 forreceiving the top contacts 140. The upper housing 10 further defines anupper surface 102 and peripheral walls 104 extending upwardly from theupper surface 102. The upper surface 102 is adapted to have anelectrical package seated thereon and defines a receiving cavity forcontaining the electrical package therein jointly with the peripheralwalls 104.

The top contact 140 comprises a keeping portion 1400 for positioning thetop contact 140 in the upper housing 10, an upper contacting end 1402extending from a top end of the keeping portion 1400, and a lower matingend 1404 extending downwardly from a lower end of the keeping portion1400. In assembly, the upper contacting end 1402 extends above the uppersurface 102 of the upper housing 10.

The bottom contact 142 comprises a main portion 1420 extending in avertical direction, a “U” shaped bight portion 1422 arranged on a topend of the main portion 1420, and a lower mounting end 1424 extendingfrom a lower portion of the main portion 1420. Referring to FIGS. 4-5,the bight portion 1422 has two free ends spaced to each other. A pair ofmating beams 1426, 1428 extends downwardly from a lower end of the twofree ends, respectively. In the vertical direction and in atop-to-bottom direction (direction of the arrow F in FIG. 7-8), the twomating beams 1426, 1428 extend gradually approaching to each other intheir free ends. In other words, a channel 1429 is defined by the pairof mating beams 1426, 1428, and provides a space to allow movement ofthe lower mating end 1404 of the top contact 140 under a condition thatdimension of the channel 1429 is gradually reduced in the top-to-bottomdirection. The pair of mating beams 1426, 1428 is provided to besymmetrical with respective to each other.

The lower mounting end 1424 and the two mating beams 1426, 1428 arelocated in a same side relative to the main portion 1420. Also, thelower mounting end 1424 is formed with a flat solder pad extending inhorizontal direction and adapted to a solder ball 16. Accordingly, spaceof the through gaps 120 in horizontal direction may be low. Moreover,the contact does not need a long resilient arm, thus has a lower need ofdistance between two adjacent contacts. The lower mounting end 1424 islocated in a position below the two beams 1424, 1426. In detail, thelower mounting end 1424 extends from a lower portion of the main portion1420, which is located below and corresponding to one free end of thebight portion 1422. Then, the lower mounting end 1424 extends toward theother free end of bight portion 1422.

Referring to FIGS. 6-8, a process of the top contact 140 engaged withthe bottom contact 140 is shown. When the top contact 140 approach thebottom contact 142 under an external force F in the top-to-bottomdirection, due to space between the pair of mating beams 1426, 1428 isgradually reduced, the mating beams 1426, 1428 will exert elasticdeformation under stress from the lower mating end 1404 and then willexert elastic force A, B, respectively. The elastic force will act onthe lower mating end 1404 of the top contact 140. Accordingly, the pairof mating beams 1426, 1428 of the bottom contact 140 is mechanically andelectrically engaged with the lower mating end 1404 of the top contact140.

As depicted above, the contact 1 of the prevent invention has a simplestructure and will occupy a lower space in the housing. Thus, thecontact 1 will meet a trend of miniaturization of electrical connectorand is adapted to a high-density connector while still maintainingperformance of the connector.

While the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present inventionhas been shown and described, equivalent modifications and changes knownto persons skilled in the art according to the spirit of the presentinvention are considered within the scope of the present invention asdefined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electrical connector comprising: a pluralityof contacts, each contact having a top contact and a bottom contact, thetop contact formed with a keeping portion and a lower mating enddownwardly; the bottom contact having a pair of mating beams extendingvertically for engaging with the lower mating end of the top contact; alower housing defining a plurality of through gaps for receiving thebottom contacts; and; an upper housing mounted upon the lower housingand defining a plurality of receiving slots for receiving the topcontacts; wherein when the top contact approaches the bottom contact twomating beams in a top-to-bottom direction under a pressed force, elasticforce is generated by the pair of mating beams due to elasticdeformation and acts on the lower mating end, thus making the pair ofmating beams of the bottom contact mechanically and electrically engagewith the lower mating end of the top contact.
 2. The electricalconnector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pair of mating beamsextends gradually approaching to each other in the top-to-bottomdirection.
 3. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein achannel is defined by the pair of mating beams, and provides a space toallow movement of the lower mating end of the top contact under acondition that dimension of the channel is gradually reduced in thetop-to-bottom direction.
 4. The electrical connector as claimed in claim3, wherein the top contact further comprises a contacting end extendingupwardly from the keeping portion and above an upper face of the upperhousing.
 5. The electrical contact as claimed in claim 3, wherein thebottom contact comprises a main portion extending vertically with abight portion arranged on a top end of the main portion, wherein thepair of mating beams extends from the bight portion.
 6. The electricalconnector as claimed in claim 5, wherein the two mating beams areprovided to be symmetrical with respective to each other.
 7. Theelectrical connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein the two mating beamsare arranged on opposite free ends of the bight portion and extenddownwardly.
 8. An electrical contact for electrically connecting twoexterior electronic components, comprising: a top contact comprising anupper contacting end and a lower mating end; a bottom contact comprisingan upper mating end and a lower mounting end; wherein the upper matingend of the bottom contact is formed with a pair of mating beamsextending in a vertical direction and opposite to each other; a channeldefined by the pair of mating beams, and providing a space to allowmovement of the lower mating end of the top contact under a conditionthat dimension of the channel is gradually reduced in a top-to-bottomdirection.
 9. The electrical contact as claimed in claim 8, wherein thebottom contact comprises a main portion extending vertically with abight portion arranged on a top end of the main portion, wherein themounting end and the pair of mating beams extend from the main portionand the bight portion, respectively.
 10. The electrical contact asclaimed in claim 9, wherein the mounting end and the pair of matingbeams are located in a same side relative to the main portion.
 11. Theelectrical contact as claimed in claim 10, wherein the two mating beamsare provided to be symmetrical with respective to each other.
 12. Theelectrical contact as claimed in claim 11, wherein the two mating beamsare arranged on opposite free ends of the bight portion and extendstoward the lower mounting end.
 13. The electrical contact as claimed inclaim 12, wherein the lower mounting end is formed with a flat solderpad adapted to a solder ball.
 14. The electrical contact as claimed inclaim 12, wherein the lower mounting end extends from a lower portion ofthe main portion, which is corresponding to one free end of the bightportion.
 15. The electrical contact as claimed in claim 14, wherein thelower mounting end extends toward another free end of the bight portion.16. An electrical connector comprising: an insulative housing defining aplurality of passageways, each of said passageways defining an uppersection and lower section; a plurality of contact sets respectivelydisposed in the corresponding passageways, each of said contact setsincluding an upper contact, which is essentially located in thecorresponding upper section, engageably supported by a lower contact,which is essentially located in the corresponding lower section, anupper end of the upper contact extending above an upper face of thehousing for engagement with an electronic package; wherein said uppercontact is configured to be up and down moveable, between upper andlower positions, relative to the corresponding lower contact in arestraint manner under condition that at least one of said upper contactand said lower contact is deformed to provide a restored force to urgethe upper contact upward away from the lower contact when said uppercontact is moved to said lower position.
 17. The electrical connector asclaimed in claim 16, wherein said at least one of the upper contact andthe lower contact is the lower contact.
 18. The electrical connector asclaimed in claim 17, wherein said lower contact includes a pair ofspring arms to commonly supportably sandwich a lower portion of theupper contact.
 19. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 16,wherein said housing includes an upper housing and a lower housingrespectively forming said upper section and said lower section therein.20. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 16, wherein said uppercontact defines a laterally expanded keeping portion to restrictmovement of said upper contact between the upper position and the lowerposition.